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NSF REUs & RETs

MU Division of Research, Innovation & Impact

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Overview

Introductions & Overview

About the NSF

NSF REUs & RETs

Future Sessions

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Introductions

Sarah Polasky

Director�RII SPDS

polaskys@missouri.edu

Christie Terry

Director

RII Professional Development

terryce@missouri.edu

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The National Science Foundation (NSF)

An independent federal agency whose goal is "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

Mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences
NSF supported research

Is a primary driver of the U.S. economy.
Enhances the nation's security.
Advances knowledge to sustain global leadership.

https://www.nsf.gov/about/

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Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Program created by the NSF to support active and meaningful participation of undergraduate students in research programs/projects
Aim: to broaden participation in STEM majors/careers
Targets students in earlier phases of their undergraduate experience
Projects can be during summer or academic year

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Types of REUs

REU Sites

Independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that typically engage a group of undergraduate students in research

REU Supplements

Included as part of larger NSF proposals and typically engage 1-2 undergraduate students in research

Sarah

Sites at MU: 5 currently active, 17 inactive (historical)

Supplements: at least 51 awarded (likely an undercount)

Notes

REU supplements are typically included in a new proposal to the NSF as an included component; however, REU supplements can be requested at any time.
REU supplement requests for existing grants are handled by the NSF program officer for the underlying grant and investigators should contact the program officer prior to submitting the request.
Estimate is to fund 175 new Sites and 1,150 new Supplements each future year.
Deadline for REU Sites is September 27, 2023 (next year is August 21, 2024 and third Wed in August, annually thereafter).
REU Supplements can be requested at any time by talking to a program officer. You must have at least one year left on your existing grant to apply.
No restrictions on number of proposals per organization/PI/co-PI.
student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents.
REU projects with an international dimension are welcome.

Also found an interesting article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.6136

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NSF Directorates�Supporting REUs

REUs can be in any area of research funded by the NSF:

Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR)
Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)
Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)
Office of Integrative Activities (OD/OIA)
Office of International Science and Engineering (OD/OISE)

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Why REUs?

Attract and retain students into STEM through early research experience
Support broadening participation in STEM
Contribute to MU’s mission to increase undergraduate participation in research

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REU Supplements

Provides support for undergraduate students (typically 1-2) to participate in research as part of a new or ongoing NSF funded project
Strongly encouraged that these are included as part of the research proposal itself
REU supplements can submitted after award if undergraduate participation was not foreseeable

Sarah

Projects that engage a number of undergraduate students (typically 8-10) in research
Must have a well-defined common focus, but can be interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary as long as there is a coherent intellectual theme
Projects should enable a cohort experience for student participants
Proposers can incorporate virtual projects that make use of virtual technology in order to expand opportunities for a larger number of undergraduate students
A significant proportion of undergraduate researchers must come from outside the institution; projects must recruit at least half of the students from academic institutions where research opportunities in STEM are limited
Typical funding is for 3 years, although funding can be awarded up to 5 years; proposals for the renewal of successful REU sites are welcome (but go through the same process as a new proposal)
REU site proposals should be submitted by the annual deadline to the relevant directorate, although it may be reviewed by multiple directorates when interdisciplinary.
Proposers are encouraged to communicate with theNSF REU point of contact in their disciplinary area: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_contacts.jsp

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Important Considerations

Successful Proposals will:

Present projects with coherent intellectual themes
Include detailed educational strategies for involving undergraduate students
Include a strong mentoring component where investigators commit to developing student research skills while also involving them in the culture of research and connecting their research experiences with their studies
Have recruitment strategies that seek to broaden participation in STEM particularly for women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities
Consider recruitment of students in the earlier stages of their studies (which may include partnering with 2-year colleges)

*Always contact the relevant program officer to discuss your ideas.

Sarah

Will engage students in coherent intellectual/scientific themes - they are learning something important about the science, the process, etc.

You describe what you want undergraduate to /do/ and learn….this should be a growth and learning opportunity for the students

Include intentional mentoring - consider training for your mentors before they engage with students and encourage them to reflect on their own mentoring experiences and practices throughout and after the mentoring process

Recruitment strategies should be expansive and inclusive - think about how to reach populations that don’t often have the opportunity to engage in scientific research at a university setting. Consider engaging the support of MU Extension

Templates for that can assist with your REU application are available on the RII website

Reminder - always contact the program officer to discuss your ideas before starting a formal application.

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Special Opportunities

All REU proposals recommended for merit review will be considered for partnership with:

Semiconductor Research Corporation
Department of Defense
Department of Energy (new)

Projects with international components will be considered for co-funding with OISE

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Award Information

Deadline to submit

The PI Must have at least one year left in their project - so applications must be submitted at least 18 months prior to close of project.

Funding:

1,150 new supplements per year, est.
Cost limitation for FY24 is 1,550 per week unless there are unusual circumstances.

Review Process

Intellectual merit: potential to advance knowledge
Broader Impacts: potential to benefit society & broaden participation

Sarah

Reviewers will be asked to interpret the two basic NSF review criteria in the context of the REU program. In addition, they will be asked to place emphasis on the following considerations:

Appropriateness and value of the research and professional development experience for the student participants, particularly the appropriateness of the research project(s) for undergraduate involvement and the nature of the students' participation in these activities.
Quality of the research environment, including the facilities, the preparedness of the research mentor(s) to guide undergraduate research, and the professional development opportunities for the students.
Appropriateness of the student recruitment and selection plans, including those for involving students from underrepresented groups, from outside the host institution, and from academic institutions with limited research opportunities in STEM.
Quality of plans for student preparation and for follow-through designed to promote continuation of student interest and involvement in research.
Appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of the budget, effectiveness of the plans for managing the project and evaluating the outcomes, and commitment of partners, if relevant.
For renewals of previously funded REU Sites: consider the effectiveness of the previous Site.

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Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

NSF supplements may support authentic summer research experiences for K-14 educators to foster long-term collaborations between universities, community colleges, school districts, and industry partners.�
Researchers interested in an RET supplement should discuss the idea with your program officer. �
Look for RET Dear Colleague Letters

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NSF Directorates�Supporting RETs

Specific directorates put out their own calls for RETs; however, RET components can also be included in an REU proposal

Directorates with their own call for RETs:

Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)

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Why RETs?

Strengthens STEM education in K-14 schools and introduces more students to the STEM pipeline
Faculty from the hosting university can deepen their understanding of classroom practices, current curricula, pedagogy, and K-14 educational environments

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Support

Mentor training (Graduate School)�
Endorsement of summer programming and assessment (Office of Undergraduate Research)�
RII templates

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Finding RET/REU Opportunities

New NSF Dear Colleague Letters

(add screen shot)

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Future Sessions

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Questions

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REU Sites

Must have a well-defined common focus, but can be interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary with a coherent theme
Projects should enable a cohort experience for student participants
A significant proportion of undergraduate researchers must come from outside the institution; projects must recruit at least half of the students from academic institutions where research opportunities in STEM are limited
Typical funding is for 3 years, although funding can be awarded up to 5 years
REU site proposals should be submitted by the annual deadline to the relevant directorate

Projects that engage a number of undergraduate students (typically 8-10) in research
Must have a well-defined common focus, but can be interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary as long as there is a coherent intellectual theme
students should have a cohort experience, so they are building relationships and a sense of belonging
Proposers can incorporate virtual projects that make use of virtual technology in order to expand opportunities for a larger number of undergraduate students
A significant proportion of undergraduate researchers must come from outside the institution; projects must recruit at least half of the students from academic institutions where research opportunities in STEM are limited
Typical funding is for 3 years, although funding can be awarded up to 5 years; proposals for the renewal of successful REU sites are welcome (but go through the same process as a new proposal)
REU site proposals should be submitted by the annual deadline to the relevant directorate, although it may be reviewed by multiple directorates when interdisciplinary.
Proposers are encouraged to communicate with theNSF REU point of contact in their disciplinary area: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_contacts.jsp